City Council Meeting Minutes

October 1, 2013

CALL TO ORDER: City Council convened in a General Committee meeting on October 1, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, 101 S. George St., York, PA, to receive general public comment, with the following Council members present: David Satterlee, Michael Ray Helfrich, Renee S. Nelson, Henry Hay Nixon, Vice President, and Carol Hill-Evans, President, with President Hill-Evans presiding.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

Leo Lunger, city resident, said he has been trying to get parking problems resolved in his neighborhood for years. He was angry about how quickly the booting ordinance was discussed in committee as he feels business owners seem to be given preferential treatment over the taxpaying residents of the city.

Richard Klinedinst, city resident, said he is going to keep doing his prayer walk until York City becomes the gold star standard of America.

There being no further public comment, President Hill-Evans adjourned the General Committee meeting and convened in Legislative Session at 7:00 p.m., in Council Chambers, 101 S. George St., York, PA, with the following members present: David Satterlee, Michael Ray Helfrich, Renee S. Nelson, Henry Hay Nixon, Vice President, and Carol Hill-Evans, President, with President Hill-Evans presiding.

Members of the Administration in attendance included: Tammy Harvey-Bethea, Bureau of Housing, and Barb Kovacs, Bureau of Health. Also present was Assistant Solicitor Jason Sabol.

Members of York City Council staff in attendance included: Dianna L. Thompson-Mitchell, City Clerk.

Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Minutes: Council dispensed with the reading of the Minutes of September 17, 2013 and unanimously approved them as written.

Correspondence and Announcements: President Hill-Evans read correspondence and announcements.

PRESENTATIONS

2011 Audit: Greg Shank, Maillie LLP, wrapped-up presentation on the 2011 York City Audit (continued from the 9/25/13 committee meeting).

COMMITTEE MEETINGS SCHEDULED

Committee Meeting: Scheduled for October 23, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers to discuss items for the November legislative agenda.

STATUS OF PRIOR COMMITTEE REFERRALS

Booting: A Bill amending Article 507 “Booting” of the Codified Ordinances was discussed at length at Council’s 9/25/13 committee meeting and remains in committee at this time.

Mobile Food Vendors: A Bill amending Article 333 “Peddlers & Solicitors” of the Codified Ordinances to increase the number of mobile food vendor licenses authorized to operate in Continental Square was discussed at Council’s 9/25/13 committee meeting and remains in committee at this time.

SUBDIVISION / LAND DEVELOPMENT / HARB: None

FINAL PASSAGE OF BILLS / RESOLUTIONS: None

NEW BUSINESS

Introduction of Bill No. 15, Session 2013, (View) A Bill amending the 2013 CDBG & HOME Budgets to reflect changes resulting from closing out activities and rolling over funds from 2012, was introduced by Nelson, read by short title and deferred until the October 15 meeting of Council.

Introduction of Bill No. 16, Session 2013, (View) A Bill amending Article 181 “General Provisions,” Subsection 181.01 “Member Qualifications, Expenses, Term and Removal” of the Codified Ordinances to establish that individuals may only serve on one City board or commission at a time, was introduced by Hill-Evans, read by short title, and deferred until the October 15 meeting of Council.

Introduction of Bill No. 17, Session 2013, (View) A Bill amending Article 1501.04(14) and (15) of thee Fire Prevention Code to phase out the requirement for connection to the city’s gamewell system, was introduced by Nixon, read by short title, and deferred until the October 15 meeting of Council.

Resolution No. 69, Session 2013, (View) A Resolution authorizing a budget transfer for Public Works in the amount $10,000.00 for repairs to the boiler system at the Princess Street Center, was introduced by Satterlee, read at length, and on motion of Satterlee, seconded by Helfrich, Resolution No. 69 passed by the following vote: Yeas – Helfrich, Nixon, Satterlee, Nelson, Hill-Evans – 5; Nays – 0.

Resolution No. 75, Session 2013, (View) A Resolution amending the 2012 Annual Action Plan to reflect changes resulting from transferring from RDA acquisition to RDA stabilization/demolition, was introduced by Nelson, read at length, and on motion of Nelson, seconded by Helfrich, Resolution No. 75 came up for discussion.

Tammy Harvey-Bethea, Program Funding Analyst, explained that this is to cover emergency demolition of properties acquired by the RDA.

Councilman Helfrich asked what the RDA plans to do with properties they’ve acquire. Business Administrator O’Rourke responded that these particular properties were acquired because no one wanted to buy them because they are in such bad condition. He said these properties are being demolished because they pose a safety hazard.

Councilman Helfrich said he would like to continue discussions on acquisition and disposition of RDA properties at a future meeting of Council.

Resolution No. 76, Session 2013, (View) A Resolution authorizing a budget transfer in the CDBG budget in the amount of $12,270.37 from RDA acquisition to RDA stabilization/demolition, was introduced by Nelson, read at length, and on motion of Nelson, seconded by Nixon, Resolution No. 76 passed by the following vote: Yeas – Helfrich, Nixon, Satterlee, Nelson, Hill-Evans – 5; Nays – 0.

Resolution No. 77, Session 2013, (View) A Resolution authorizing an agreement with the PA Dept. of Health for immunization services in the amount of $171,000.00 for the period of January 1 – December 31, 2014, was introduced by Nelson, read at length, and on motion of Nelson, seconded by Helfrich, Resolution No. 77 passed by the following vote: Yeas – Helfrich, Nixon, Satterlee, Nelson, Hill-Evans – 5; Nays – 0.

REQUESTS FOR FUTURE MEETINGS: None

COUNCIL COMMENT

Councilman Helfrich thanked the public for taking part in discussions on the booting legislation at Council’s September 25 committee meeting. He said this is an important piece of legislation and we need to hear from the public.

Councilman Satterlee announced that an electrical procurement contract will be coming before Council at its next meeting. Due to pricing deadlines and rate locks, he said this Resolution will not be sent to committee but will instead appear on the next agenda for consideration of passage.

Councilman Helfrich requested that a solicitor start attending Council Committee meetings to respond to legal questions.

Assistant Solicitor Sabol responded that he was informed that a solicitor’s attendance was not requested, which is why they haven’t attended but that he would discuss this with Assistant Solicitor Hoyt.